This is probably the earliest representation of gruesome horror on film, evident from the subject matter, the creepy visual effect of Christiane wearing her… MoreThis is probably the earliest representation of gruesome horror on film, evident from the subject matter, the creepy visual effect of Christiane wearing her mask, and the ritualistic killings of the doctor, though he thinks he is doing right. This is an essential film for horror fans who want to see the early days of this genre. The costuming, the mask, and the setting of the unpopulated countryside manor and institute, make for a great backdrop for the story. It's also an interesting film to watch when it comes to the dynamic between the father and his daughter: he only sees her when she is whole, unmarred by the tragic accident he caused. He constantly says he feels guilty for disfiguring her, but really he needs things to be perfect because he is used to perfecting people at his clinic. She is the one disfigured, but he is the one who is truly ill. There's a level of control and villainy that is complex and untethered from modern horror conventions. There are some great, frightening visuals, especially of Christiane's face as it decays. The ending is the least likable aspect of the story, because it's so anticlimactic and strange. What does it symbolize? How does Christiane feel about her fate? Beautiful in a very frightening way, this is a classic in many respects, and worth watching.

Sophie Burgess

A fantastic film with an original narrative and great performances from all the cast. I didn't expect too much but it really did justice to this era of… MoreA fantastic film with an original narrative and great performances from all the cast. I didn't expect too much but it really did justice to this era of filmmaking. The only problems were it wasn't exactly medically correct (for this time anyway, I'm unsure of how advanced they were then). Also it just seemed to end. I realise that the two got their comeuppance and died after killing all those other poor girls yet I want to know what happened to Christiane. Where did she go? Did everyone find out what they were doing there? What did the girl who was set free do? Overall a brilliant film that I'd definitely recommend!

Randy Tippy

An obsessed surgeon becomes a serial killer in order to provide his disfigured daughter with skin grafts. Exquisitely gruesome.

Drew Smith

Stark, surreal and almost poetically beautiful, Eyes Without a Face is likely to be the most unique film I've seen in a very long time. The visual… MoreStark, surreal and almost poetically beautiful, Eyes Without a Face is likely to be the most unique film I've seen in a very long time. The visual composition surges with grace, right down to every last detail, and it all feels summarized by that bizarre mask that Christiane wears. A perfect face hiding something truly horrible.
This film made me feel many ways - touched, curious, horrified, darkly amused, nervous, shocked, sad. It is both human and inhuman at the same time, striving desperately to lend dignity to the barbaric practices that the doctor runs through. It is hard to find a clear villain, and when the film finishes you're left unsure as to where your allegiances lie. Eyes Without a Face is clearly-written and structured extremely well, but it is not immune to ambiguity. Fortunately, it only adds to the mystery of the film, rather than detracting from it.
The movie can't help but fall victim to the problems inherent in any 50-year-old horror movie, but it is still extraordinarily crafted. See this.

Alex roy

Brilliant and stunning Foreign Horror film brilliantly directed by Georges Franju, Eyes Without a Face is a unique film in the genre. Beautifully filmed an… MoreBrilliant and stunning Foreign Horror film brilliantly directed by Georges Franju, Eyes Without a Face is a unique film in the genre. Beautifully filmed an acted, this is one of the most powerful genre films in the medium. Using images to create its terror as it is a very subtle film that manages to truly terrify the viewer with atmosphere, and the fear of what is transpiring what keeps you involved from start to finish. The cast is phenomenal and the lead actress, Edith Scob delivers a powerful performance in the role Christiane Génessierm, the daughter of a mad doctor who is deformed and whose father captures young women to find a perfect face for his daughter. The film may seem tame by today's standards, but at the time of its release, the film was ahead of its time. This is horror the way it should be. Franju direction is immaculate, and his eye for creating a truly memorable and engaging horror film is unmatched. Eyes Without a Face is a flawless picture that is both beautiful and shocking all at once. The images that befall upon you are haunting, disturbing and unforgettable. Eyes Without a Face is a brilliant picture that tells a subtle, yet horrifying story that will certainly appeal to viewers looking for a truly well executed picture that uses the bare necessities to create terrific terror. The result here is a truly disturbing, yet brilliant affair that is among the finest horror films ever made. If you get a chance at seeing this iconic film, you'll glad you did. Using horror basics, Franju was able to make a film that has much more impact on the viewer than many of the horror films released today.

Lanning : )

Roger Ebert, please calm down. With apologies to Misael and XTC: <p> Excruciating -- <p> and I don't mean that in a good way. Walter, I… MoreRoger Ebert, please calm down. With apologies to Misael and XTC: <p> Excruciating -- <p> and I don't mean that in a good way. Walter, I almost added this sucker to our infamous list -- and it was a free download! <p>I guess it takes way more to creep me out than when I was young. If I have one positive thing to say about this, uh, experience, it's that the animals ultimately rule. I laugh as I type that, thinking about Willard ordering his rats to KILL. One star for the triumph of animals, and one star for making me think about <i>Willard</i>. The only laugh derived from this -- what was that word? Oh, yes, "experience." And I'm talking 180 from Jimi Hendrix here. <p>Oh, and another positive: At least this was more interesting than suffering through <i>The Social Network</i>.

El Hombre Invisible

An atmosphere of dread and sinister obsession with sudden moments of graphic violence. One of the horrors is watching the surgical procedures in their entirety… MoreAn atmosphere of dread and sinister obsession with sudden moments of graphic violence. One of the horrors is watching the surgical procedures in their entirety in a staged and detached fashion. A bit slow at first, but art-house sensibility and horror were key ingredients to make it a favorite.
A bonus on the dvd from Franju is a darkly comic documentary based on slaughterhouses that's not suited for vegetarians.
<a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=Surgery2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/Surgery2.jpg" border="0" alt="Eyes Without A Face"></a>

Michael Gildea

Eyes Without a Face definitely takes a while to get going but it's worth it. Whoever did the lighting for the first act needs to get new glasses. The… MoreEyes Without a Face definitely takes a while to get going but it's worth it. Whoever did the lighting for the first act needs to get new glasses. The surgery scene came off as a bit contrived, but if you watch the interview with Franju in the special features it makes sense. It wasn't really made clear who was the crazy one at the end but either way the final scene is so incredibly haunting you don't really care.

Graham Jones

A horror classic that is still shocking today.

Stella Dallas

seriously creepy. from the writers of diabolique and vertigo. alida valli was soo evil and the ending was just beautiful. hey does anyone remember that billy… Moreseriously creepy. from the writers of diabolique and vertigo. alida valli was soo evil and the ending was just beautiful. hey does anyone remember that billy idol song?
'les yeux sans vis-age...'

_kelly .King

Horror Not to Miss List Commentary:
Great cinematography and a Gothic plot quite controversial for a feature film on its time. Compared to Hitchcock's… MoreHorror Not to Miss List Commentary:
Great cinematography and a Gothic plot quite controversial for a feature film on its time. Compared to Hitchcock's Psycho in terms of visual language, it does deliver but didn't strike me as the "perfect piece" it was hyped to me as. Still, most viewers will be able to bite into this a bit more firmly, as my big gripe was predictability of this film within the whole of Gothic horror tales.

Pierluigi Puccini

original, dark, and fun french thriller, written by the same duo who made possible Hitchcock's Vertigo and Clouzot's Diaboliques